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Hours
Sun
12:00 am - 1:00 am5:00 pm - 12:00 am
Mon
5:00 pm - 12:00 am
Tue
5:00 pm - 12:00 am
Wed
5:00 pm - 12:00 am
Thu
5:00 pm - 12:00 am
Fri
5:00 pm - 12:00 am
Sat
12:00 am - 1:00 am5:00 pm - 12:00 am
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Ratings and reviews
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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CUISINES
Asian, Fusion, Shanghai, Hong Kong
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, After-hours, Drinks
features
Is this an Italian restaurant?
Details
CUISINES
Asian, Fusion, Shanghai, Hong Kong
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, After-hours, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
4.0
1,606 reviews
Excellent
889
Very good
427
Average
135
Poor
81
Terrible
74
Camilla C
Sydney90 contributions
Jan 2020 • friends
We visited TAO for our last night in NYC and reading reviews and nees articles online, our expectations were high.
Arriving at 8.25 for our 8.30 booking, we were advised to head to the bar and our table would be ‘ready shortly’. We enjoyed a nice cocktail and 20 minutes later (8.45) we enquired as to when our table would be ready...again advised ‘in a few minutes’. When it reached 9pm, wr followed up again and were taken to our table shortly after by a host who didn’t greet us or crack even the slightest smile.
Our server did not approach our table for almost 10 minutes after we were seated however was apologetic for the delay and lack of service so far.
The remainder of the night was quite nice; good food, an extensive drinks menu, great music/vibe and fairly attentive service (although not to the same standard as somewhere like Buddakan and more transactional as opposed to conversational). The floor Manager approached us during our meal to also apologise for the rocky start to our evening and after mains, sent a complimentary dessert (their signature jumbo fortune cookie filled with chocolate mousse).
All in all we had a nice night and I would recommend TAO Downtown if you enjoy the ‘Clubstaurant’ scene. The service doesn’t live up to their reputation or the quality of the restaurant but is a fair step above most restaurants in NYC.
Written 3 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
josephc300
Woodcliff Lake193 contributions
Feb 2020 • couples
We were here for an last minute early dinner. It is difficult to make a reservation around 8 unless you plan well in advance. I was here before for an early dinner as well. Our plan was to eat early and walk around the area enjoying other establishments. We had a drink in the bar before being seated and ordered another round at the table. We ordered various appetizers: hot and sour soup, gyoza, sushi and edamame. For dinner we shared a few entrees: lo mein, beef and broccoli, wagyu rib eye, chicken, bok Choy and lobster 3 ways. Everything was very good but the wagyu, although a favorite, is very pricey. It was a very thin piece of meat but perfectly prepared. We ordered desserts to share but that was when our night changed, at least for me. While serving dessert, someone, I think, banged into the server and he spilled Carmel sauce on my shirt, pants and Burberry scarf. It was all over me and extremely sticky to the point I had to take off my shirt. Luckily I had a under shirt under my dress shirt. Of course they apologized numerous times but I was going out afterwards. Thanks to my quick thinking, I ask if they had a Tao T shirt that I could have and they gladly accommodated me. They did offer to pay for dry cleaning and did take off money from the bill. Our server and the manager were very nice prior but especially after my catastrophe. Since they gave me a T shirt I was able to go out after and not have to go home.
Written 16 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lolly’s Look
New York City15009 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
Tao Downtown is a very trendy chic restaurant with great food. The centerpiece of the restaurant is a giant Quan Yin with 24 hands that is illuminated. The cocktail menu has specialty Marty is and signature drinks. The food menu is a good mix of sushi and Cooked Asian entrees. We started with edamame, tuna tartare on crisp rice and the bao bao buns. Entrees of shrimp pad Thai, and a platter of sushi.
The desserts are over the top. Order the giant fortune cookie 🥠 for a special night out. The decadent molten chocolate cake was oozing with caramel chocolate sauce and the ice cream pop finished our dinner. It’s a great place. Come to dine, dance or just people watch.
Written 23 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle201707
London19 contributions
Nov 2021 • friends
We had really high hopes for this place and had been looking forward to it for our first night in NYC. Our table was booked for 8:30 but we didn’t actually get seated until 9:20, which, when you have been up for 24 hours, and jet lagged was not off to a good start. Prices here are extortionate which I don’t mind paying as long as I’m getting excellent food, but this is ridiculously priced ($9 for ONE piece of sashimi). The only good thing we ordered were the Singapore noodles, as least they were hot. Chicken yakatori was warm and covered in a sauce which can only be described as coming from a bottle. The Peking duck was like warm, both of which we sent back. We also had some salmon and tuna Tatar and talaki. All
Of which were ok, nothing special. Service was slow and frustrating, it’s a place which has had its day. The atmosphere was buzzy, but our reason for visiting was just for the food. If you’re going for just drinks it’s fine, otherwise for decent food I would avoid at all costs
Written 19 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
c.c
Athens140 contributions
Dec 2021 • couples
They open at 17:00, we had a reservation at 17:00. We were there 16:55 and none at the door. When they opened at 17:00 they told us and a family with children next to us to wait outside until they are ready. If you value ur clients, you wait them with open doors half an hour before opening time. They don’t wait for when u r ready!
When we got inside, the restaurant is huge and beautiful, however service is chaotic. I had added in the notes that I am pregnant and will need a comfortable seat, they put me on a chair. When I asked to seat at the empty couch, they said they would inform me in a second, I am still waiting!
As for the food, their cod was not fresh, it had a weird smell, their noodles with shrimp had so many things inside, you wouldn’t get an overall taste. Their sushi was average. In general we didn’t enjoy our food as we expected.
Written 9 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leidy R
1 contribution
Aug 2022 • none
Had a dinner reservation on Sunday, August 28th, at 10:30pm to celebrate my daughters birthday. I waited to be seated until 11:30pm. I was sat and greeted by my server. W e ordered a round of cocktails and proceeded to order appetizers and mains. It was my daughters birthday, therefore I ordered two bottles of champagne to celebrate. My appetizers come to the table as well as the champagne and 3 mins later my mains came to the table. I asked them not to place the mains on the table, but they did anyway. I called my server and the server proceeded to mention that she was sorry, but I need to be out by 12:30, because the people from the VMA's were coming and we had to vacate the place. I asked to call the manager who came and mentioned she was sorry and it was a unique situation, I replied that I was the one sorry because at least I should have been advised because I made a reservation days in advance. We felt unwanted, harried and used. Paid for food that I did not get a chance to eat and 2 bottles of champagne I didn't even get a chance to drink. There were so many doors we could have gone but we chose TAO for a reason, our experience was extremely ruined from beginning to end and that is not hospitality. It was terrible and I wish I could understand how a place like this could treat their guests with so much disdain. I will never ever recommend this place and higher management and corporate should be aware of this and make sure they do something about avoiding these ridiculous situations. what happened to hospitality? Im a manager of a high end restaurant in Manhattan but i was very disappointed in the way my daughters birthday went.
i hope you take this matter seriously.
Written 1 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shana D
West Reading8 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
If i could give negative stars i would. From check in until we left, it was an awful experience. We checked in at 10:30 pm and had a 10:45 pm reservation. Didn’t get seated until 11:23 pm. Waitress looked down upon us because we didn’t order alcohol. We ordered Salmon and it tasted like garbage, and the Thai shrimp we ordered tasted more like chicken. Our waitress never checked on us to see if our food was ok. I guess I’m beyond disappointed more so because we come to Tao 2x per year from Pennsylvania for both my birthday and my sister’s bday and it’s always wonderful service, tonight was enough to never come back.
Written 1 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cecelia M
1 contribution
Feb 2023 • none
10 Friends and I went to the restaurant on on Friday, Feb. 24th. It was the worst experience I ever had in a restaurant. From the minute we arrived, the hostess said with an attitude don't forget you have to be finished by 10 PM we told her we know that. As soon as we sat down the server wanted to know what we wanted to order, we didn't even get a chance to look at the menu. At 9 PM we were still finishing our dinner and they started clearing the table. We had brought a Birthday cake for one of our friends, the server bought out the sliced cake before some of us were not finished with dinner. The slices were slivers.They never bought out the rest of the cake for us to take home. We should have insisted they give us the rest of the cake.
The best part is that the next day one of our friends called to asked had we liked the drinks. He called the restaurant and over the phone he paid for 10 drinks for us.. We never received them. This place is total RipOff
Written 2 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yogesh Odhrani
Dubai23 contributions
Aug 2021 • family
The venue was beautiful… The restaurant is a renowned restaurant… The table was at the foot of the large figure… Food was amazing !
But, all compromised by the quality of the service. The table was wet and sticky. Asked to get it cleaned and still remained wet and sticky. Our waitress was a mission to get attention of. Not once throughout our dinner experience did our waitress care to come check on us. The changing of plates was absolutely pathetic !! The person clearing the plates and cleaning the table first spilled water from one of the glasses on the table, and then, ended up spilling soya sauce on my daughters pants !!! What’s worse, he’s wasn’t apologetic rather seemed like doing a job he disliked so much !!
Upon asking for the bill, our waitress simply disappeared !! At this point, I was really annoyed and just wanted to leave so just asked another waitress to assist us.
Overall, I was really really disappointed by the service levels only. Venue and food were the only thing that was the positive for the evening. Everything else was a poor experience !!
Wouldn’t ever visit again !
Written 18 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cranberries0928
Washington DC317 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
Beautifully decorates space, with many lovely small details and a gigantic statue of Buddha in the back. If you ask to be seated in one of the curved booths, you will get a great view. At the top of the steps in the two-story space, you can get a great photo. Food was very good, service also very good. You may be surrounded by bachelorette parties or other happy groups, but we also saw families with young children and couples. Nice pre-theater dinner.
Written 11 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Verene M. H
Western Norway423 contributions
Dec 2021 • friends
We were 11 people enjoying good food, good music and good vibes at TAO.
We were served something called “family style” where the food kept coming and coming. It was so many new flavors and combinations that took me by a surprise. Definitely recommend going.
Written 30 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MichiganMom71
Clarkston470 contributions
Jul 2022 • none
Having never been to Tao before, we weren't sure what to order and our server was right on point with his recommendations of the spicy tuna small plate and the swordfish skewers (which we probably would not have thought of). We also had 2 types of sushi and some Dim Sum vegetable dumplings. Everything was beyond perfect. The atmosphere is unique, with some seats on a stadium level around a ground floor. It is very dark inside and a bit "mysterious", which I think is the vibe they are going for. I would definitely return here.
Written 20 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yoni Zilberman
Jerusalem120 contributions
May 2021 • none
Very cool place with great vibes. it was a pleasure, great food, great service, the waiters were nice and helped with picking the dishes.
the whole experience was great with the cool place. live DJ music and nice people.
Written 14 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
guseboy
Santa Clarita404 contributions
Jan 2022 • family
What a great place! My family and I enjoyed a GREAT dinner at Tao’s. The service was incredible, our waiter was very helpful with food/drink suggestions. We started with Miso Clam Soupthen some Sushi rolls and the n onto the main course. We end the evening with a huge dessert tray. Overall great place to enjoy a dinner, but bring plenty of $$$$.
Written 6 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MaryMoreno2055
New York City8 contributions
Jun 2022 • family
My husband and son made dinner reservations to celebrate my birthday. We got seated and waited a while before our waiter came to introduce himself. We reviewed the menu, and placed our order... My husband had discreetly told the waiter it was my birthday and asked if he can bring a desert with a candle at the end of meal. I was extremely disappointed when the desert was brought over and just placed on the table....no happy birthday wishes, no presentation nothing just placed on the table and he walked away.... I expected better service considering the bill was pretty pricey. Not to mention they hadva few managers on the floor, not one stop by our table or other tables but were pretty interested on their cell phone..
Written 9 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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